Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
How well different dog ear cleansers remove ear wax in lab tests
By Sánchez-Leal, J et al.·Published in Veterinary dermatology·2006·Departamento de Tecnologí, Spain·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: In vitro investigation of ceruminolytic activity of various otic cleansers for veterinary use.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A study tested 13 different ear cleaning products for dogs to see how well they could remove earwax. The results showed that only one product was really effective, removing up to 90% of the wax, while most others did very little. This information can help pet owners and veterinarians choose the best ear cleaner for dogs with earwax buildup. If your dog has ear problems, it might be worth asking your vet about the most effective ear cleaning options.
People also search for: dog ear cleaner effectiveness · best ear cleaner for dogs · dog earwax removal products
Abstract
Knowledge of the ceruminolytic activity of commercially available ear cleansing products assists the practitioner to choose the best available product for specific clinical situations. The aim of this study was to quantify and compare the ceruminolytic activity of commercially available canine ear cleansers. For this purpose, the ceruminolytic activity of 13 ear cleansers was evaluated using a standardized synthetic cerumen (SSC) that mimics the composition and texture of canine cerumen. The test products were incubated with mild agitation for 20 min with 500 mg of SSC previously compacted at the bottom of a test tube. Ceruminolytic activity was then assessed by quantifying the SSC removed by decantation. This procedure was repeated five consecutive times on each tube simulating repeated applications in the canine ear canal. Good repeatability among replicates was found in this assay, allowing direct comparisons between products. The final percentage of SSC elimination ranged from none (similar to water), between 8 and 39% for three products and up to 90% for one product (P<0.001). It is concluded that, in the experimental conditions used in this study, only 1/13 products had significant ceruminolytic activity.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16515654/